After already buying and selling Marcus Good and Grant Williams this offseason, the Celtics could possibly be positioning themselves to pull off a “seismic” deal sooner or later.
Might that deal be for disgruntled Portland Path Blazers star guard Damian Lillard? It’s not out of the query that the Celtics land Lillard, but it surely appears not possible with all indicators pointing to the Path Blazers orchestrating a commerce with the Miami Warmth, which is Lillard’s most well-liked vacation spot.
However the Celtics may nonetheless entice Portland with a reasonably candy commerce bundle for the seven-time All-Star. Most consider a commerce that will carry Lillard to Boston would imply sending Jaylen Brown to Portland. Properly, suppose once more.
“I feel there’s a model of this story the place Lillard may wind up in Boston and the Celtics wouldn’t have to surrender Jaylen Brown,” NBA reporter Chris Mannix stated on 98.5 The Sports activities Hub’s “Toucher and Wealthy” on Thursday morning. “They’d have to surrender mainly every part else. I imply, whether or not it’s Robert Williams, Derrick White, each draft decide they’ve acquired over the subsequent six years. It might be a steep value to pay.”
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Giving up mainly each asset the Celtics personal to maintain Brown and acquire Lillard could be robust for Boston to come back to grips with. However Mannix wouldn’t hesitate pulling the set off on that deal.
“I’m of the opinion, although, that you just do it,” Mannix stated. “Damian Lillard is a playoff performer. Damian Lillard is the man that solves your drawback of Jayson Tatum getting worn down late within the playoffs. He solves your drawback of getting somebody to provide the ball to when Tatum will get double crew. He’s every part the Celtics may wish offensively.
“And yeah, with Lillard and Porzingis, you’re going to should revamp your protection as a result of you may’t defend in the identical means they’ve defended during the last couple of years with their change every part protection. However that’s a big-time crew if you may get your palms on him.”
The Celtics do have a historical past of giving up various gamers to land a singular entity. That got here in 2007 when Boston traded 5 gamers and two first-round picks to amass Kevin Garnett.
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Celtics president of basketball operations Brad Stevens has already reshaped Boston’s roster this offseason. And if he needs Lillard to hitch Brown and Jayson Tatum in Celtics inexperienced, he may need to ascertain a very new crew round these stars.